SS/25 STAYING IN TOUCH Pramod Arora explains how WMS is pioneering the way for land-like cellular connectivity at sea NET ZERO Felix Eichhorn of AIDA Cruises on decarbonisation ALL-ELECTRIC Katy Taylor shares Wightlink’s vision for its fleet
THE NEW HAIFA PORT CRUISE TERMINAL Get Ready! The Old City of Jerusalem Haifa's Scenic Routes The Sea of Galilee THE FUTURE OF CRUISING IN THE EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN • Next-Gen Terminal (Opening - 2028) A landmark project, designed by BA (Bermello Ajamil) delivering top-tier eciency, security, comfort, and seamless operations for cruise lines and passengers alike. • Seamless Connectivity Direct access to Israel’s international airport and global travel hubs. • Unforgettable Shore Excursions & Pre/Post Cruise Tours From the ancient streets of Jerusalem and Nazareth to the serene beauty of the Sea of Galilee, the vibrant culture of Tel Aviv, and the Dead Sea’s unique wonders, Israel oers an unparalleled journey. • A City Committed to Cruise Tourism Haifa is embracing its role as a premier cruise destination, with a dedicated ecosystem designed to welcome, support, and enhance the cruise experience for passengers and operators.
Haifa is back on the global cruise map. Be part of the journey.
Foreword Advancing innovation Keeping up with the pace of change is challenging for even the most determined passenger shipping operators. New innovations and opportunities can bring more complexity but without them, the industry would stagnate and wither. Passenger shipping is often acknowledged for its spirit of innovation and continues to make great advances this year, including smarter ships, alternative fuels and more personalised services. Bud Darr, president of Cruise Lines International Association, and Mike Corrigan, CEO of Interferry, share insights into the cruise and ferry sectors’ decarbonisation goals and strategies in their articles on page 62 and page 66, respectively. Environmental sustainability is referenced frequently within this issue, starting in our keynote interview with Felix Eichhorn, president of AIDA Cruises, on page 10. He says: “Shaping decarbonisation in practice is the greatest challenge facing our society.” The expanding luxury and expedition markets, the appeal of electric urban ferry services and sustainability leadership all provide differentiation and growth opportunities for smart operators. These topics are covered throughout this issue. You can also keep updated on progress in the passenger shipping industry via our website and social media channels. Keep an eye out for our team at industry events, too. Enjoy the read! Jon Ingleton Executive Editor, Cruise & Ferry Review SS/25 CONTRIBUTORS CFR would like to thank all of those who contributed to this issue, including: Dr Hirohito Ito Hirohito works for Central Consultant and specialises in advancing Japan’s cruise industry in collaboration with the Government of Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism and port authorities. My Nguyen My is director of interior design at Holland America and Seabourn and a strong advocate for increasing sustainability and circular design in the passenger shipping sector. Siu Lie Tan Siu Lie is an independent advisor who also works in partnership with various consultancies internationally, including Exsulting.com (integrated sustainability), Innoboost.nl (business model innovations) and pyramide.nl (leadership training). Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy Stewart is managing director of the World Ocean Council and is also the founder of Precovery Labs, which is focused on supporting resilience and precovery for the most vulnerable people and places. 3
CONTENTS 4 10 49 Hervé Gastinel explains how Ponant’s recent activities will enable it to achieve its goals of environmental responsibility 52 Explora Journeys’ new president Anna Nash discusses the brand’s mission to introduce a new era of luxury cruising 56 Jason Worth updates CFR on Oceania Cruises’ plans for culinary excellence and fleet expansion 58 Paul Strachan of Pandaw Cruises talks about the river cruise brand’s 30 years of success and future goals 61 Carsten Lund explains how SunStone Maritime Group’s ships are designed to travel to remote destinations around the world 62 Bud Darr, the new president and CEO of CLIA, highlights his plans for driving industry growth and sustainability Cover story 34 Pramod Arora of WMS shares how its engineering expertise and partnerships with satellite technology providers is enabling it to pioneer the way for land-like cellular connectivity on cruise ships at sea Keynote 10 AIDA Cruises president Felix Eichhorn gives an insight into the Carnival Corporation brand’s decarbonisation efforts and its quest to reach net zero by 2050 Marketwatch 16 A collection of news from ship operators, ports and destinations and other businesses operating in the cruise and ferry sectors, including the latest on Royal Caribbean International’s third Iconclass ship Cruise Business 38 MSC Cruises’ Gianni Onorato provides an update on the new MSC World America and the brand’s focus for 2025 and beyond 42 Cruise line executives showcase the different excursions available on expeditions to remote areas 34
5 104 Building and Refurbishment 90 A look at how ferry operators and shipyards are planning for successful launches and deliveries in 2025 and beyond 94 We report on notable cruise ship orders that are due for delivery up to 2036 101 Sustainability consultant Siu Lie Tan considers how designers and architects can ensure they comply with the European Green Deal 104 CFR spotlights selected refurbishment projects completed for cruise and ferry operators over the past six months 109 MJM Marine describes a recordbreaking outfitting project for Aroya Cruises’ flagship Aroya 111 Turnkey interior outfitting company Aros Marine is expanding to provide tailored services to European ship operators Ferry Business 66 Interferry will continue to work with ferry operators and stakeholders to spearhead the transition to net zero, says Mike Corrigan 68 Greta Bédard of STQ reveals the Canadian operator’s plans to improve its fleet and enhance passenger and employee experiences 74 A range of ferry executives tell CFR why they are choosing battery electric vessels to build sustainable fleets 80 Stena Line’s Paul Grant outlines his role in expanding Irish Sea business and what’s next for the company 82 Hornblower Group’s new CEO Mike Flaskey shares his plans for passenger shipping following recent financial struggles 84 Katy Taylor discusses how Wightlink is strengthening its ties with the Isle of Wight and its vision for an allelectric fleet 86 Interferry’s Johan Roos outlines why the IMO needs to consider sectorspecific regulations 88 Michael Grey explains why a good ferry service needs more than a ship 68
Cruise & Ferry is proud to partner with the following organisations to support and promote their global visions and objectives www.onecaribbean.org | www.cruising.org | www.expeditioncruisenetwork.com www.interferry.com | www.ifiworld.org | www.oceancouncil.org | www.wtcf.org.cn £24.00 Published by Tudor Rose Tudor House, 6 Friar Lane Leicester LE1 5RA Tel: +44 116 2229900 www.tudor-rose.co.uk ISSN 2635-0475 (Print) ISSN 2635-0483 (Online) Printed in Great Britain by The Manson Group. © 2025 Tudor Rose Holdings Ltd. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be stored or transmitted or reproduced in any form or by any means, including whether by photocopying, scanning, downloading onto computer or otherwise without the prior written permission from Tudor Rose Holdings Ltd. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the publisher. Acceptance of advertisements does not imply official endorsement of the products or services concerned. While every care has been taken to ensure accuracy of content, no responsibility can be taken for any errors and/or omissions. Readers should take appropriate professional advice before acting on any issue raised herein. The publisher reserves the right to accept or reject advertising material and editorial contributions. The publisher assumes no liability for the return or safety of unsolicited art, photography or manuscripts. Executive editor Jon Ingleton Editor Rebecca Gibson Editorial team Alice Chambers, Amber Hickman, Richard Humphreys, Laura Hyde, Alex Smith Editorial contributors Rebecca Barnes, Michael Grey, Philippe Holthof, Lindsay James, Justin Merrigan, Susan Parker, Michele Witthaus Ferry industry advisor Simon Johnson, Shipshape Consulting Media manager Shelly Palmer Account managers Kimberley McLean, Benedict Pask, Harkishan Patel Publisher Toby Ingleton Production manager Stuart Fairbrother Design Bruce Graham, Libby Sidebotham, Dhanika Vansia Cover image Carnival Cruise Line Ferry Business cover image Société des traversiers du Québec Website development Chris Jackson Circulation Sophia Brinkley Advertise info@cruiseandferry.net Subscribe subscribe@tudor-rose.co.uk www.cruiseandferry.net/subscriptions Follow Cruise & Ferry: WWW.TUDOR-ROSE.CO.UK WIN MORE BUSINESS… …with marketing services from Tudor Rose. Send a mail to hello@tudor-rose.co.uk to arrange a consultation. PUBLISHING BRANDING ADVERTISING DESIGN DIGITAL COPYWRITING
7 CONTENTS Marine Operations 112 N icholas Belle of Abelle Consulting explains why technology is vital for smooth operations in a feature that highlights some of the latest smart solutions 118 Lars Ljoen explains how Carnival Corporation plans to achieve its net-zero goals 120 Stewart Sarkozy-Banoczy reveals how the World Ocean Council is empowering the marine industry to tackle environmental challenges 124 Yiannis Maglaras explains how P&O Ferries has benefited from implementing a new ticketing platform from Expian 125 The cruisePAL suite of software is helping simplify every aspect of cruise operations, says Sonja Merckel 127 Anglo-Eastern’s Frits van der Werff highlights the company’s latest successes and future plans 118 125 127 112
PortMiami.biz 305.347.4800 Cruise Capital of the World® Cruising From Miami is half the fun
9 CONTENTS Ports and Destinations 152 CFR looks at how ports around the world are accommodating turnaround and extended visits 160 Spyros Almpertis of The RitzCarlton Yacht Collection discusses how to create deeply immersive passenger journeys 165 Global Ports Holding Northern Europe 167 Orkney Islands Harbour Authority 168 Cruise Wales 171 A report on what’s new at Norway’s cruise ports and destinations Mediterranean 175 Valletta Cruise Port Asia 178 Dr Hirohito Ito of Central Consultant asks whether Japan will become Asia’s cruise hub by 2029 182 Wallem Ship Agency 184 Hong Kong Tourism Board North America 187 Port Everglades 189 Port of Los Angeles 191 Port of Vancouver Featured Partners 193 A selection of ship repair yards, interior outfitters, suppliers, technology providers, and ports and destinations within the cruise and ferry industries Onboard Experience 128 Cruise executives reveal the most popular dining venues onboard their ships and share how they created the vision behind their success 136 Marco De Jorio of De Jorio Luxury & Yacht Projects and De Jorio Design Swiss, outlines the design process for luxury dining venues 138 Holland America and Seabourn’s My Nguyen leads a feature on circular design and sustainable solutions for passenger ship interiors 146 Aquafil’s Cristina Stefani explains how the company aims to transform the sustainability of cruise ship and ferry carpets 148 Elina Niemi discusses Signify’s history and strong focus on creating energy-efficient lighting solutions for passenger ships 150 SMC Design’s Alan Stewart and Jennie Drummond highlight how Saudi Arabian traditions and art inspired interiors for Aroya Cruises 151 Continental is designing practical and sustainable materials for cruise ship interiors, says Norbert Müller 138 128 In a new section to close Cruise & Ferry Review, the following pages include profiles of this issue’s featured partners. Cruise lines can partner with these organisations and destinations for support with future operational projects, interior redesigns and itinerary development. In this issue, you will find several firms that can support interior design projects, three businesses that specialise in ship technology, two ports that are ideal as bases for exploring their local regions, and much more. For more about these and other partners, as well as information about how you can become a CFR Featured Partner, visit www.cruiseandferry.net/directory. Photo: iStock/gremlin FEATURED PARTNERS All words in this section are provided by featured partners.
10 KEYNOTE Charting a path to net zero AIDA Cruises has long been a trailblazer when it comes to sustainability. President Felix Eichhorn gives Susan Parker an insight into the Carnival Corporation brand’s quest to reach net zero by 2050 One of Carnival Corporation’s eight cruise brands, AIDA Cruises is now the third-largest tour operator in Germany. In 2024, it achieved a record year in terms of turnover and guest numbers (which hit 1.5 million). “Despite all the crises and economic challenges, Germans are keen to go on holiday more than ever,” says Felix Eichhorn, president of AIDA. “Holidays are being booked even earlier than in previous years. The cruise product is becoming increasingly attractive compared to land-based holidays due to its unbeatable price/experience ratio. We are seeing strong demand for cruises from German ports in particular. In summer, this accounts for almost 80 per cent of our guest volume. Cruises are the growth driver in tourism as a whole in Germany and the engine for employment. Nevertheless, cruises are still a niche market.” Germans collectively take over 100 million holidays per year, but only three million of them cruise annually, which Eichhorn says means there is plenty of potential for cruise market growth which, he says, is only limited by the available capacity. Nevertheless, he believes “that the German cruise market will break the four million guest mark within the next 10 years”. Growing the brand goes hand in hand with minimising the brand’s carbon footprint, says Eichhorn. “Shaping decarbonisation in practice is the greatest challenge facing our society. AIDA Cruises has a clear roadmap and is aiming for net-zero emissions in our fleet’s shipping operations by 2050. As a pioneer in the cruise industry, we have been investing in and utilising innovative environmental technologies for many years.” The company is already doing more than is required by current industry regulations and recognises that there is no single solution for green shipping. However, its strategy is focused around five pillars: fleet optimisation, energy efficiency, efficient route planning, new technologies and alternative fuels. To drive forward and implement its decarbonisation roadmap, AIDA has pooled its scientific and technical expertise into a decarbonisation department, which has been based at subsidiary Carnival Maritime in Hamburg, Germany, since spring “ Shaping decarbonisation in practice is the greatest challenge facing our society”
Photo: credit 11 Photo: Silje Paul
12 2022. Its work focuses on research and development, energy management, and data management and analysis. “In the shipping sector, the cruise industry is driving the change, and we believe that we are the leaders in this field,” says Eichhorn. “Take shore power, for example. Our ships are docked in ports for around eight to 10 hours. During this time, we use electricity from shore, in regular operation mode. The important thing is that shore power should preferably be green energy, and we need reliable, competitive and affordable tariffs.” AIDA made 65 connections to shoreside power in 2023, more than 350 in 2024 and aims to reach over 500 in 2025, primarily in Northern European ports. Almost every second call in Northern Europe already involves its ships connecting to shore power but the cruise ports in Southern Europe must ramp up the corresponding infrastructure before AIDA can expand usage there, says Eichhorn. In addition, AIDA plans to expand its commitment to using alternative fuels in 2025. The brand has been using LNG fuel as a bridging technology for remaining operational while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions since 2018 but is now in talks with potential suppliers of other fuels. In 2022, it was the first company in the world to use biofuel on a cruise ship (AIDAprima) and continues to test the viability of different fuels. “Whilst biofuel is an option, it needs to come from renewable sources, ensuring that no agricultural land for food production is used or forests have to be cut down,” explains Eichhorn. AIDA is also exploring possible applications of electrofuels (e-fuels) for energy production onboard as an important part of its decarbonisation strategy. Both the dual-fuel engines on its LNG cruise ships, and the diesel engines on its other vessels, can be operated with alternatives, including KEYNOTE AIDAprima became the first cruise ship in the world to bunker with 100 per cent renewable biofuel when it called at the Port of Rotterdam, Netherlands, in September 2024
13 bio-LNG or e-LNG and bio- or synthetic diesel respectively. However, it’s not all plain sailing and there is much still to be done, says Eichhorn. “There are limiting factors here, such as the strong demand for e-fuels from aviation and other landbased energy-intensive industries. This has an impact on the availability of alternative fuels at an industrial level at economically viable prices. There is a lack of stable and, above all, global supply chains and refuelling infrastructure, but first and foremost there is an absence of standardised international regulations for the use of e-fuels, biofuels and other innovative technologies.” Batteries and fuel cells are also part of the mix of potential solutions. The largest maritime battery storage system in the passenger shipping industry was retrofitted onboard AIDAprima in 2022, while a methanol-based fuel cell was installed onboard AIDAnova for demonstration purposes in summer 2022. The research project was completed and lessons learnt will be incorporated into future plans, says Eichhorn. Another technology AIDA is using to increase energy efficiency is artificial intelligence. One of the most important investments currently being made in this area is the fleet-wide rollout of a specific digital data collection and analysis tool, developed within the Carnival Group and launched in 2024. The tool supports the crew in near-real-time decisionmaking about how to operate each ship most efficiently by optimising the energy flows onboard, or calculating the route to the next port with the lowest fuel consumption. Initial usage shows immediate savings in the energy required for propulsion and other onboard systems, such as air conditioning. “Our fuel consumption on a newbuild like AIDAcosma is around one-third today of what it was for a ship commissioned 20 years ago,” says Eichhorn. “Only a few industries can achieve that.” Many of these achievements have been made with the help of the Fleet Operations Centre (FOC), which was established in 2015 as a maritime service unit and is part of Carnival Maritime. “With this significant investment, we have installed the most modern and innovative centre of its kind in Germany,” says Eichhorn. “With the new hardware and advanced software tailored to our specific maritime needs, we are setting new standards in the cruise industry.” The FOC uses a satellite-based, near-real-time monitoring system to collect millions of data points from 31 ships sailing for Carnival Corporation’s European brands – including 11 AIDA vessels – every day. It then analyses the data using digital algorithms, providing insights so crew can adjust the course of the voyage if necessary to suit the current conditions in the sailing area and optimise operations for maximum guest comfort. Digital analysis also identifies potential opportunities to significantly reduce carbon dioxide AIDAluna was the first cruise ship to connect to shore power in Norway’s Port of Oslo Photo: Port of Oslo
Everything needed for a seamless journey is right here. Port Everglades guests enjoy easy access through a leading international airport, direct highway connections, state-of-the-art terminals, secure parking, and boundless pre- and post-cruise possibilities in the world’s most inviting destination, Greater Fort Lauderdale, where Everyone Under the Sun is embraced with open arms. We make it easy. PortEverglades.net This Port is Paradise. Welcome to smooth sailing the voyage begins here
15 emissions by optimising fuel and energy consumption, routes, water management and various logistics processes in the more than 350 ports AIDA’s ships visit around the world. The FOC has developed a tactical table (a digital workbench equipped with software) and a modern ship simulator to help present various scenarios and conduct individual training sessions for the cruise brands. “Compliance with environmental regulations is our top priority,” says Eichhorn. “The previous manual approach became increasingly complex and labour intensive, especially as new regulations were introduced worldwide. With this proprietary software solution, these tasks are automated and optimised, allowing us to effectively address future challenges.” Software, which has been specially developed involving experts of Carnival Corporation, also helps to continuously improve environmental management in the interest of protecting sensitive marine ecosystems as effectively as possible. With a global digital environmental sea map installed on all ships, the FOC monitors more than 500 international and national environmental special zones, port regulations and the company’s own guidelines worldwide. In addition, technical control and analysis, combined with best-practice experiences, offer numerous approaches to developing innovative environmental and resource conservation projects in areas such as freshwater supply, wastewater treatment, and recycling and waste management. Over the next two years, AIDA is investing millions to modernise its older ships to help decarbonise their operations. “As part of the AIDA Evolution future initiative, the largest fleet modernisation programme in our company’s history started in February 2025 with AIDAdiva docking [to be followed by AIDAluna and AIDAbella] in Chantier Naval in Marseille, France,” says Eichhorn. “We are very proud of this, as fleet optimisation is an important pillar of our AIDA decarbonisation strategy.” In addition to new innovations and optimisations, AIDA cruises added popular concepts from its latest ships to AIDAdiva during the seven-week dry dock. “The wishes of our guests constantly spur us on to rethink the cruise experience and take existing concepts to the next level,” says Eichhorn. “The ships in the Sphinx series have written cruise history with their innovative room concept and design. We want to build on this with our AIDA Evolution programme. Our guests can enjoy even more variety of experiences, service and comfort onboard.” Fleet modernisation projects, combined with decarbonisation initiatives, and both a high passenger return rate and around every second guest being a new customer in 2024, indicates that AIDA is set for a healthy and promising future, says Eichhorn. “This year is looking excellent so far. We will continue to grow profitably due to several factors, such as the unbroken trend towards advance bookings on premium price level and unrivalled price/experience ratio compared to shoreside vacation offers.” “ The wishes of our guests constantly spur us on to rethink the cruise experience” The FOC uses a digital ‘tactical table’ to simulate various sailing scenarios and conduct training sessions for AIDA’s crew members KEYNOTE
16 Royal Caribbean International’s third Icon-class vessel will be called Legend of the Seas and is expected to join the cruise line’s fleet, alongside sister ships, Icon of the Seas and Star of the Seas, in July 2026. Legend of the Seas will spend its maiden season sailing a series of sevennight Western Mediterranean itineraries from Barcelona, Spain. The ship’s European cruises will include visits to ports in France, Italy and Spain, and offer excursions to historic sites, local beaches and natural landmarks. After spending the summer in the Mediterranean, Legend of the Seas will move to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, in November 2026 where it will offer sixnight Western Caribbean and eight-night Southern Caribbean voyages year-round. Both itineraries will include visits to the cruise line’s private destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay, as well as calls in Oranjestad in Aruba, Falmouth in Jamaica, and Willemstad in Curacao. “Legend of the Seas is the next bold step in this exciting era of vacations and the continuation of the Icon-class legacy, MARKETWATCH Royal Caribbean reveals name and itineraries for third Icon ship Legend of the Seas, the latest addition to the world’s largest cruise ship class, will debut in the Mediterranean in July 2026 Legend of the Seas is a sister ship to fellow Icon-class ships Star of the Seas and Icon of the Seas Photo: Royal Caribbean International
17 STAR OF THE SEAS TO MAKE DEBUT AHEAD OF SCHEDULE Construction on Royal Caribbean International’s second Icon-class vessel, Star of the Seas, is progressing ahead of schedule at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland. As such, the ship will host two four-night showcase sailings from Florida’s Port Canaveral on 23 and 27 August 2025. Both will take place before the ship’s official inaugural sailing, which will still take place on 31 August as originally planned. Star of the Seas was floated out in September 2024, during a nine-hour process that involved filling the dry dock with 92 million gallons of water. The ship will be similar to Icon of the Seas, which launched in January 2024, but with a few new additions, such as the Lincoln Park Supper Club, Lou’s Jazz ‘n Blues, and convenient pick-up windows for sushi and champagne. Meyer Turku began building the ship’s restaurants, bars and the signature AquaTheater in July 2024 after the installation of the 367-ton AquaDome, which is the largest glass and steel structure to ever be lifted onto a cruise ship. and we look forward to bringing the revolutionary lineup of experiences to more families and adventurers across Europe, the Caribbean and beyond,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. The ship is currently under construction at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland, where the keel was laid on 7 October 2024. “Icon 3 is a very important vessel for both the shipyard and the partner network,” said Tim Meyer, CEO of Meyer Turku, at the keel-laying ceremony. “We get to see what a combination of high-level know-how and sister ship experience can achieve today. Icon 3 will be an allencompassing holiday experience to the tourism market, which is impatiently waiting for it.” Legend of the Seas will offer more than 40 venues for guests to dine and drink across eight neighbourhoods, including Surfside, which has been designed for young families. Onboard attractions will include high ropes course Crown’s Edge and the largest waterpark at sea, Category 6. The ship will also feature seven pools, including the largest pool at sea, Royal Bay, as well as swim-up bar Swim & Tonic and the adults-only Hideaway, which will feature an infinity pool suspended above the ocean. The ship is also the fourth Royal Caribbean International ship to be powered by LNG fuel. In addition, it will include waste heat recovery systems and shore power connection capability to reduce its environmental impact. The keel-laying ceremony for Legend of the Seas took place at the Meyer Turku shipyard in Finland on 7 October 2024
18 MARKETWATCH Ambassador Cruise Line merges with Compagnie Française de Croisières British brand Ambassador Cruise Line has merged with French cruise operator Compagnie Française de Croisières (CFC) to form the Ambassador Group, a “leading European premium affordable value cruise line” targeted at the “no-fly silver market”. Ambassador Group will operate a fleet of three small to mid-sized vessels, including Ambassador’s 1,400-guest Ambience and 1,200-passenger Ambition and CFC’s 1,200-guest Renaissance, which has recently undergone a multimillioneuro refurbishment. Ambience and Ambition will continue to offer a traditional British cruise product, while guests sailing on Renaissance will be able to enjoy a French cruise experience. The merger will enable Ambassador Group to enter the fly-cruise market with a joint fly-cruise Caribbean programme in winter 2025-2026 in partnership with European travel operator Corendon. Targeted at guests from the UK, France and the Netherlands, the itineraries will be offered from October 2025 and sail from homeports in Barbados, Martinique and Curaçao. Photo: Ambassador Cruise Line Celebrity Cruises to launch new river cruise brand in 2027 Celebrity Cruises has ordered 10 vessels for its new Celebrity River Cruises brand. The ships will visit cities on the world’s “most iconic” rivers and will begin sailing in Europe in 2027. The brand, which will begin taking bookings in 2025, will offer guests Celebrity Cruises’ signature hospitality and destination-rich itineraries. To be built in the Netherlands by TeamCo, the ships will “elevate” the design of Celebrity Cruises’ Edge-series ocean ships and provide 360-degree views. “With about half of our guests having experienced or intending to vacation on a river cruise, we know they will enjoy Celebrity’s elevated offering on the river,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, which owns Celebrity Cruises. “We are the best in the world at delivering the vacation of a lifetime, and this is the latest example of how we are building the capabilities to deliver a lifetime of vacations.”
19 MSC Cruises’ latest ship, MSC World America, has successfully completed its sea trials following a final test in the Atlantic Ocean. MSC World America is scheduled to be delivered by French shipbuilder Chantiers de l’Atlantique on 27 March 2025 and will be christened at the cruise line’s new terminal in Miami, Florida, on 9 April. MSC World America successfully completes sea trials Resorts World Cruises is to transition to the StarCruises and Dream Cruises brands over a three-month period in early 2025. StarCruises will provide affordable cruising with mid-sized ships of around 2,000 passengers, while Dream Cruises will focus on offering a luxury experience on vessels with capacity for over 3,000 passengers. Resorts World One will be renamed Star Navigator, while Genting Dream will come under the Dream Cruises brand. The cruise line’s latest ship, the 1,800-passenger Star Scorpio, which launched on 26 March 2025 from its homeport of Singapore Cruise Centre, will join the StarCruises brand as Star Voyager. The ship was purchased from P&O Australia and underwent a $50 million refurbishment in Singapore prior to relaunching. Resorts World Cruises rebrands and expands fleet Photo: Chantiers de l’Atlantique Princess Cruises is expanding its catalogue of Alaska National Parks cruise tours, providing guests with the opportunity to visit between three and five national parks, including Glacier Bay, Denali, Wrangell St. Elias, Kenai Fjords and Katmai. The new offerings will combine the cruise line’s ‘Voyage of the Glaciers’ seven-day cruise with rail travel and multiple days on land, including stays at four Princess-owned wilderness lodges. In total, Princess will sail seven ships in Alaska during the 2025 season and eight vessels in 2026. Princess Cruises plans Alaska adventures for 2025 and 2026
20 MARKETWATCH Amadeus River Cruises will debut its newest ship, Amadeus Aurea, on the Rhine, on 26 May 2026. The ship will be powered by a hybrid propulsion system designed to reduce emissions and will cater for up to 158 guests in 12 suites with balconies and 67 cabins with panoramic windows. Amadeus Aurea will also feature the Panorama Restaurant, River Terrace, fitness room and a heated outdoor pool with a sun deck and bar. The ship will utilise an onboard heat recovery system to limit its carbon emissions. New ship to join Amadeus River Cruises fleet in 2026 Pandaw Cruises to debut suiteonly ship on Mekong River Asian river cruise operator Pandaw Cruises is introducing a suiteonly ship to the Mekong River in order to cater to guest demand. Formerly known as Pandaw III, the ship will be refurbished and re-enter service as Tonle Pandaw on 1 November 2025 featuring 14 luxury suites, each with a private deck. The suites will be decorated with Cambodian fabrics and repurposed pure Burma teak panelling. Guests will also have access to a dedicated butler. The ship will also include a new spa, gym, library and cocktail saloon. Expedition Cruise Network adds new members Expedition cruise lines Selar and Galaxy Expeditions have joined the Expedition Cruise Network, which was launched in April 2023. Selar was founded by Sophie Galvagnon, the first female captain to sail the Arctic, alongside entrepreneurs Julia Bijaoui and Quentin Vacher. It is launching a sustainable collection of luxury polar ships and expeditions and is set to embark on its first journey in 2026. Formerly known as Galagents Galapagos Cruises, Galaxy Expeditions has been sailing in South America for nearly 20 years across its fleet of luxury catamarans, yachts and specialised dive vessels.
Supporting cruise lines, passengers and crew with all aspects of every port call www.wallem.com
MARKETWATCH Product spotlights 22 NIOCOM-Pumps are made of glass fibre reinforced vinylester resin (GRV), which are ideal for seawater as they are resistant to corrosion and therefore do not release particles or substances into the environment. NIOCOM-Pumps offer an alternative to metallic pump for all corrosive and seawater applications and offer a balance between chemical resistance, mechanical strength, lightweight and good quality-price ratio. As the pumps are lightweight, they save energy costs and consequently reduce carbon dioxide emissions. They are available in three types and settable in many different configurations, allowing them to be tailored to suit and fit any system. NIOCOM-Pumps Antti Marine produces a range of doors for marine vessels. These doors can often be heavy due to fire safety standards, sound reduction and durability requirements. However, the company has now successfully reduced their weight. “We have introduced new technical solutions with insulation materials,” said Markko Takkinen, commercial director of Antti Marine. “The thickness of the insulation material in these next generation doors has been further developed, and the steel thickness has been optimised. Additionally, we have made advancements in processing efficiency by implementing changes to the door structure and the entire design system. These innovations have resulted in up to 15 per cent weight savings in Antti B-class fire doors.” Antti Marine doors Floor adhesives F. Ball’s range of marine flooring adhesives and preparation products is Marine Equipment Directive certified and tested in accordance with International Maritime Organization (IMO) standards. It carries both the IMO wheelmark and UK Red Ensign conformity mark, which guarantees the appearance and safety of installations throughout the lifetime of floor coverings. The marine range has been specially designed for flooring that will be subject to conditions typically found in marine and offshore environments, such as surface water and extreme temperatures. Solar Glass Solar Glass by Brombach + Gess is a sustainable energy solution for cruise ships and ferries. The photovoltaic glass generates energy through a thin and translucent solar film. The technique ensures complete freedom of design, enabling it to be tailored for use for windows, roofs, balconies, railings and other applications. Solar glazing generates up to 26 watts of electricity per square metre. Solar Glass will be exhibited by Brombach+Gess at Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo Americas in Miami, Florida, in June, and Cruise Ship Interiors Europe in Hamburg, Germany in December.
WWW.TVVMARINELIGHTING.COM Professional marine lighting solutions since 1999 • LED downlights (USPH standard requirements, B0 and B15 certified) • LED linear lights • Architectural, custom made lights • Marine upgrades Marine lighting design and manufacture of: •Branding, Wayfinding and Security signs •Metal, Acrylic, LED, Glass, Digital, sustainable materials •Weather and salt water resistant, IMO-certified •Local production, international deliveries www.cainby.com · order@cainby.com · +358 (0)18 21411 Norrbölevägen 1, Mariehamn, Åland, Finland Dart Harbour expects busy 2025 cruise season The cruise season at Dart Harbour in Devon, UK, is scheduled to begin in late April with a visit from Antarctica21 Air-Cruises’ ship, Ocean Nova. The port anticipates a busy 2025 season, with visits from Ponant’s Le Bellot and Le Lyrial, as well as Noble Caledonia’s Hebridean Sky and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Europa. “2024 was a very good year for us and numbers are growing year-on-year,” said Richard Stones, head of commercial and environment at Dart Harbour. “With our unique offering of being an undiscovered gem, created by nature and shaped by history, we are pleased to say several new ships to us are looking to call at Dartmouth in the next couple of years.” Dart Harbour is offering cruise guests a new excursion for 2025: a trip to Slapton Ley National Nature Reserve, the largest freshwater natural lake in southwest England.
25 Dauerflora adds festive displays to onboard spaces Dauerflora has been transforming onboard cruise and ferry spaces with live, artificial and preserved plants since 1989 and towards the end of 2024, the Dauerflora teams delivered and decorated more than 157 cruise and river ships with traditional and modern Christmas trees, garlands and tabletop displays. Clients can either buy or lease the decorations, depending on which is most convenient, and can store them in Dauerflora’s warehouses in Hamburg, Germany, or Dania Beach, USA, if required. Dauerflora can also maintain and refurbish decorations. “We love to put our heart into detail,” said Barbara Bressem, founder and managing director of Dauerflora. “Every decoration concept is unique and tailored to our clients’ wishes.” One year of Icon Royal Caribbean International’s first Icon-class ship, Icon of the Seas, launched in January 2024 and has since achieved numerous milestones. 192,000 families have travelled onboard 180stops made in and around the Caribbean 52 visits to Royal Caribbean’s private island destination, Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas 28,736 high-flying aqua dives in the AquaTheater 1.59 million ice cream cones served at Sprinkles, the poolside ice cream parlour TUI Cruises’ Mein Schiff Relax will be christened in Malaga, Spain, in April 2025 during a celebration featuring a concert by British singer Robbie Williams. He will perform in an open-air venue before the traditional champagne bottle is smashed against the bow of the ship. MARKETWATCH
@napoli_crociere @terminalnapolispa Live history, live arts, live life Port of Naples In the heart of the city and the Gulf of Naples, just a step away from the airport www.terminalnapoli.it C M Y CM MY CY CMY K info@register-iri.com www.register-iri.com
27 MARKETWATCH MSC Cruises will offer cruises from Port Canaveral into 2028, increasing capacity at the Florida port. The cruise line’s fourth Worldclass ship, which is currently unnamed, will join sister ship MSC World America for the winter 2027-2028 season, offering year-round sevennight Caribbean itineraries. MSC Grandiosa, will return in winter 2026-2027 to offer yearround, seven-night Caribbean cruises from the port. In addition, MSC Seashore will continue to sail three- and four-night cruises from the port to The Bahamas and Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve year-round. MSC Cruises commits to cruises from Port Canaveral until 2028 MSC Cruises has opened its new cruise terminal in Barcelona, Spain. The terminal, developed by Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura, will serve ships from both MSC Cruises and its luxury brand Explora Journeys, and offers both an “elegant and innovative” design and an enhanced guest experience. MSC Fantasia was the first ship to call at the new terminal, which will be officially inaugurated in the coming months. First passengers call at MSC Cruises’ new Barcelona terminal A commemorative groundbreaking ceremony has taken place at Antigua Cruise Port, marking the beginning of construction on the port’s new cruise terminal, which is expected to be completed in June 2026. The Port of Thessaloniki in Greece opened its 2025 cruise season in February with a call from Celebrity Cruises’ Celebrity Infinity, marking the second consecutive year the ship has been first to arrive in port. The ship stayed overnight and guests were welcomed by representatives from the Region of Central Macedonia, the Thessaloniki Tourism Organization and the Port of Thessaloniki, who provided information about the city and traditional local sweets. Celebrity Cruises has now included Thessaloniki in its itineraries for three consecutive years, with Celebrity Infinity expected to make 21 calls in 2025 alone, eight of which will be overnight stays. Celebrity Infinity kicks off 2025 season in Thessaloniki
Seatrade Global Miami Conference Centre Miami, FL USA Show dates: 8th – 10th April 2025 Stand number: 1617 Let’s talk. cruisewales.visitwales.com Croeso/ Welcome to Wales
Headline...Eveliquo volo explias mil et Eyebrow 29 Damen Shipyards delivers Germany’s first all-electric catamaran ferry A new 149-passenger ferry designed by Incat Crowther has entered service in the Caribbean for Smith’s Ferry Services. The ferry is providing services on a tourist route between Charlotte Amalie in the US Virgin Islands and Road Town in the British Virgin Islands. The 24-metre ferry, which was built by Australian shipyard Aluminium Marine in Brisbane, can travel at speeds of up to 28 knots and is powered by two diesel engines designed to provide dependable speed performance, reduce maintenance intervals and increase time between overhauls. Incat-designed ferry begins operations in Caribbean MARKETWATCH DFDS to provide ferry services to island of Jersey The Government of Jersey has signed a contract with DFDS to operate the island’s ferry services to the UK and France from 28 March 2025. The 20-year contract will see DFDS provide passenger and freight services on routes from Jersey to Poole and Portsmouth in the UK and to Saint Malo in France. DFDS has committed to providing ferries at a greater frequency during peak periods and faster ferries to the UK. The operator will also invest in three new ferries by 2032, including two dedicated high-speed ferries for the summer. Damen Shipyards has delivered Germany’s first all-electric catamaran (E-Kat) ferry to operator Reederei NordenFrisia. Constructed at Damen’s shipyards in both Poland and the Netherlands, the 150-passenger E-Kat has an aluminium superstructure and twin hulls with a 1.2 metre draft to ensure it is lightweight and able to operate in the shallow waterways between Norddeich and Norderney on the East Frisian Wadden Sea. The 32-metre vessel has been designed to complete the 30-minute crossing at speeds of up to 12 knots.
Celebrating Milestones Be part of the biggest annual gathering yet for the cruise community 30 35 40 27 27 14 Join the celebration by registering at www.seatradecruiseevents.com/global Discover Seatrade Cruise Global 2025
31 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Seatrade Cruise Global 7-10 April 2025 Miami, Florida www.seatradecruiseevents.com Coastlink 2025 29-30 April 2025 Bilbao, Spain www.portstrategy.com/coastlink Nor-shipping 2025 2-6 June 2025 Oslo and Lillestrøm, Norway www.nor-shipping.com CSI Design Expo Americas 3-4 June 2025 Miami, Florida www.cruiseshipinteriors-expo.com MedCruise 10-13 June 2025 Cartagena, Spain www.medcruise.com Almaco completes Aroya Cruises refurbishment Aroya Cruises debuted its first ship Aroya in December 2024 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia following a seven-month refurbishment by Almaco Group, in collaboration with MJM Marine. The ship, which was formerly known as World Dream, spent months at shipyards in Bremerhaven in Germany and Rotterdam in the Netherlands undergoing refurbishment, which included the installation of two new galleys and the creation of a childrens’ cooking school. “The fantastic end result is a testament to the hard work and collaboration between MJM Marine, the owner and our team,” said Esko Ryyppö, project manager at Almaco. “The teamwork has truly transformed Aroya into a state-of-the-art cruise vessel.” Read more about the refurbishment onboard Aroya on page 109 Cruise trends for 2025 Improving entertainment is the big trend overall for 2025, consequently cruise lines are working on more exclusive, high-scale and live entertainment options. They are also considering holding sports events onboard as another popular form of live entertainment. Themed cruise ships, designed around a luxury destination or experience, are also trending. A leading example is the recently launched Aroya Cruises vessel Aroya, which evokes the Arabian experience including culture, art, interior design and food. COLUMBIA blue is deeply involved with Aroya Cruises, with the cruise ship management team at COLUMBIA Cruise Services providing project management for the ship alongside the hospitality experts from COLUMBIA signature. Norman Schmiedl is CEO at COLUMBIA blue Commentary: Norman Schmiedl MARKETWATCH From left: Simon Fotakis of SmartSea, Andreas Hadjipetrou of Columbia Group, Julia Siebert and Norman Schmiedl of COLUMBIA blue, and Andreas Hey of COLUMBIA signature
The cruise industry order books are now bulging at the seams, having added an impressive 35 new ship orders by the close of 2024. With the newbuild horizon now stretching the order book to 2036, the entire cruise ship interiors supply chain is activated and ready to create the ships of tomorrow. This year looks to be no less exciting. Although it is still only the first quarter of 2025, Carnival Cruise Line has already shaken up the cruise industry by announcing its Dream Makers programme, which will empower a select group of guests to have their say in everything from entertainment to fabric selections for its ships. With this burst of innovation, there will be plenty for the cruise lines, design studios, outfitters and suppliers to discuss at the upcoming edition of Cruise Ship Interiors Design Expo America (CSI Americas), which will take place from 3-4 June 2025 at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida. Offering a strong focus on driving connections and industry growth, CSI Americas will feature a series of networking sessions designed to foster new relationships and business opportunities, including the popular Opening Party on 2 June and the multiple intimate socials taking place throughout the two-day event. In 2024, sister show CSI Europe hosted more than 1,000 one-to-one speed networking meetings and, with the knowledge that everything is bigger in America, the event organiser is challenging itself and its attendees, to beat this number at CSI Americas. The content-led networking events will include Meet the Brands and Lunch & Learns, where procurement MARKETWATCH: EVENT PREVIEW Commentary: Abi McMahon Explore cruise interior innovations at CSI Americas 32 Members of the Cruise Ship Interiors advisory board will join panel discussions and meet with exhibitors during CSI Americas Cruise executives, design studios, outfitters, suppliers and other industry stakeholders will discuss the latest industry trends, challenges and opportunities at the event in Miami from 3-4 June 2025
33 and design professionals working for cruise lines will give suppliers a unique insight into their branding and decisionmaking processes, as well as workflow practicalities. In the past, executives working for cruise companies including Royal Caribbean Group, Seabourn, Windstar Cruises and Celebrity Cruises have participated in these sessions. Meanwhile, designers and architects looking to bring the next trending project to their brand ahead of their competitors can attend the game showstyle pitch event taking place on-site. The CSI Americas conference programme will offer a deep dive into the big questions of cruise ship interiors and the details that matter. Discussions will explore everything from the anatomy of a mega ship to the guest of the future, and project experts and cruise line leaders will provide attendees with a mix of blue-sky thinking and actionable strategies. Interior design and hospitality is now infused with a taste of high-tech futurism, and the cruise ship industry is capitalising on this too. From the threestorey kinetic sculpture onboard Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas, to the personalised MedallionClass experiences onboard Princess Cruises’ vessels, guests are getting a taste of next-generation hospitality. This is why Elite Exhibitions will also be launching the new Cruise Xperience Innovation Summit in 2025. Co-located with CSI Americas, the Cruise Xperience Innovation Summit will give attendees the opportunity to meet with exhibitors that specialise in everything from holographics to competitive socialising, as well as to attend conference sessions curated to focus on the trends of today, tomorrow and beyond. To help visitors and exhibitors find time to recharge during the busy event, CSI Americas will also feature an extensive wellness programme with various classes taking place against the backdrop of Miami’s sunrises each morning. Notable highlights will include Netwalking, Rise ‘n’ Run, high-intensity interval training classes with an ocean view, and rooftop yoga. Join the global cruise interiors community at CSI Americas by registering for a free pass at: cruiseshipinteriors-expo.com Abi McMahon is content manager at Elite Exhibitions
Standfirst.... 1 line space after....animin de sequid ut aut que pratus, si omnis dolorum que simporepe sunt perfero FEATURE Text text 34 COVER STORY Closing the connectivity gap Pramod Arora of WMS tells Rebecca Gibson how its engineering expertise, new pricing models and partnerships with mobile carriers and satellite technology providers are helping it to pioneer the way for land-like cellular connectivity on cruise ships at sea Guests sailing onboard Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Jubilee experienced a cruise industry first in 2024: they were able to access 5G cellular connectivity at sea. The offering, which the cruise line said “literally raised the connectivity bar” for its guests and the wider industry, was enabled by remote wireless solutions provider WMS. The 5G service is the latest in a long line of innovations delivered by WMS, which engineers, designs, installs, manages and monitors wireless networks and provides cellular connectivity for cruise operators. “We’re the premier global provider of remote wireless solutions that connect people and businesses in hard-to-reach places around the world,” says Pramod Arora, president and CEO of WMS. “We installed the first-ever commercial cellular network on a cruise ship in 2004 and we were also first in the industry to deliver 2G, 3G, 4G LTE and 5G connectivity over geostationary and medium Earth orbit (MEO) satellite constellations. And in 2024, we became the first to integrate cruise ship cellular connectivity services with Starlink’s low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation.” WMS works with all satellite providers and is well positioned to capitalise on new LEO satellite services as they become available. Today, it operates mobile networks on more than 200 ships belonging to 26 cruise lines, providing one million hours of network connectivity and over 226 terabytes of data annually. “More than 80 per cent of ocean-going cruise ships use our networks,” says Arora. “We led the evolution of at-sea cellular connectivity services and experiences, taking them from basic voice calls and text in the early 2000s to a full broadband
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NzQ1NTk=